Westborough man charged with trapping Verizon worker released without bail

The local businessman accused of locking a Verizon worker in an underground utility vault Aug. 5 was unfazed when police later told him that the chamber's ventiliation system shuts off when it's sealed, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

By Sara Mulkeen/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Sara Mulkeen/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 3:04 PM

By Sara Mulkeen/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 3:04 PM

WESTBOROUGH

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The local businessman accused of locking a Verizon worker in an underground utility vault Aug. 5 was unfazed when police later told him that the chamber's ventiliation system shuts off when it's sealed, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Howard W. Cook, 71, owner of Westboro Self Storage, "basically stated that he didn't care" when police, after rescuing the trapped worker, told him about the vent system's automatic shutoff, prosecutor Julieanne Richard said during Cook's arraignment in Westborough District Court.

Cook, 71, of 12 Chestnut St., was summoned to court on charges he locked technician Mike Hathaway in the vault by barricading the top with heavy rocks, police say. He is also accused of stealing the keys from Hathaway's truck during an argument. Cook was angry, police say, because the technician parked on the grass at Westboro Self Storage on Connector Road.

In his call to police, Hathaway told them that a man, later identified as Cook, screamed and swore at him while he was working in the vault, Richard told Judge Robert Calagione.

Cook then pulled an escape ladder out of the vault, closed its cover and barricaded it with two 10-pound rocks, the prosecutor said.

Hathaway remained in the vault for about 10 minutes until he was freed by police, Richard said.

Cook later admitted that he took the Hathaway’s keys, but refused to return them until police showed up at his Chestnut Street home.

Assistant District Attorney Julieanne Richard requested Cook be held on $5,000, wear a GPS monitoring device and stay away from Hathaway.

Cook’s attorney, James Gribouski, argued that his client is a 47-year resident of Westborough with no criminal convictions.

Cook was formerly a Westborough Little League coach and served as the president of the local United Way, the vice president for the Chamber of Commerce and retired in 1993 as a vice president for New England Electric, now National Grid, Gribouski said.

Cook was charged with kidnapping, breaking and entering into a vehicle during the daytime, larceny under $250 and receiving stolen property.

Calagione entered a plea of not guilty on Cook’s behalf and released him without bail. Neither Cook nor his lawyer would comment Wednesday following the arraignment.

Cook is due back in court Sept. 25 for a pretrial hearing.

Sara Mulkeen can be reached at 508-490-7475 or smulkeen@wickedlocal.com.